Title: | Neurosensory perception of environmental cues modulates sperm motility critical for fertilization |
Author(s): | McKnight K; Hoang HD; Prasain JK; Brown N; Vibbert J; Hollister KA; Moore R; Ragains JR; Reese J; Miller MA; |
Address: | "Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. mamiller@uab.edu" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1095-9203 (Electronic) 0036-8075 (Print) 0036-8075 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Environmental exposures affect gamete function and fertility, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that pheromones sensed by ciliated neurons in the Caenorhabditis elegans nose alter the lipid microenvironment within the oviduct, thereby affecting sperm motility. In favorable environments, pheromone-responsive sensory neurons secrete a transforming growth factor-beta ligand called DAF-7, which acts as a neuroendocrine factor that stimulates prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase [cyclooxygenase (Cox)]-independent prostaglandin synthesis in the ovary. Oocytes secrete F-class prostaglandins that guide sperm toward them. These prostaglandins are also synthesized in Cox knockout mice, raising the possibility that similar mechanisms exist in other animals. Our data indicate that environmental cues perceived by the female nervous system affect sperm function" |
Keywords: | "Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/metabolism/*physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/*metabolism Environmental Exposure Female *Fertilization Male Neurons, Afferent/*physiology Neurosecretory Systems/physiology Oocytes/metabolism/physio;" |
Notes: | "MedlineMcKnight, Katherine Hoang, Hieu D Prasain, Jeevan K Brown, Naoko Vibbert, Jack Hollister, Kyle A Moore, Ray Ragains, Justin R Reese, Jeff Miller, Michael A eng R01 HL114439/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ HL110950/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ HL114439/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ P30 DK079337/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/ P30 AR050948/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/ R01 HL109199/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ HL109199/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ R01 HL110950/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ S10 RR19261/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/ P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/ HL096967/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ GM085105/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ R01 HL096967/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/ R01 GM085105/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/05/17 Science. 2014 May 16; 344(6185):754-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1250598" |